Kangxi, your Qing Dynasty is dead

Chapter 205 Hongmen Banquet, It's Delicious! (ask for subscription, ask for monthly pass)

The people in Guangzhou didn’t know that the Wang’s regime in Guangdong and Guangxi, that is, the center of the four regimes of Wang Fuchen, Wang Zhongxiao, Wang Jizhen, and Sun Jiqing, was no longer in Zhaoqing, but moved to Guangzhou Fucheng. Foshan, the number one town in the world outside.

Just next door to Guangzhou Fucheng!
The center of Jiang’s regime is the headquarters of the Governor’s Office of Guangdong and Guangxi, Jingwu Academy, Reform Academy, Reform Society, Tiandihui, Guangdong Customs Road Yamen, Guangdong Customs Bank, and Macau Cannon Factory, which are important components of Wang’s regime. The suggestion to move the hall to Foshan was put forward by Wang Zhongxiao.

And the reason why he wants to make Foshan the center of Wang's regime is only one reason, and that is efficiency!
Wang Zhongxiao, who has long adapted to the slow pace of the agricultural society, discovered in Foshan, a city with a population of hundreds of thousands of handicraftsmen, a high efficiency that is different from other places.
Although this high efficiency is completely incomparable with the high efficiency of the industrialization and information society of later generations.But compared to the slow pace of the traditional farming society, it is simply too much stronger.

Agricultural production is busy and slack, and most of the time of the year is quite idle.In the handicraft industry, there is no leisure but only busyness. What a busy hand rubbing a flintlock!

Rub your hands!It was all manual work. The gun barrel was hammered out with a red-hot iron plate, and it had to be bored with a manual boring machine when it was almost knocked out. It took half a month to make a gun barrel!

Of course, casting cannons is more labor-intensive than rubbing flintlock guns. Just one casting involves many processes.After casting, the bronze cannon must be bored with a large manual boring machine. It is best to polish the inner bore by hand, and it must be processed to be smooth enough to be the top grade.

To complete a large number of hand-kneading flintlocks and hand-kneading bronze cannons, it is impossible without a large team.Moreover, the industrial chain of the metallurgical industry is relatively long, including mining, fuel collection (firewood, coal, and even local coking), blast furnace construction, equipment manufacturing, and of course transportation. There are many supporting and synergistic industries in the surrounding area.

So many industries can be well integrated, and the efficiency cannot be low.

Moreover, metallurgy is not the only big industry in Foshan. Most of the handicraft products in Guangdong, Guangxi, Fujian and Southeast Asia come from Foshan, Zhangzhou, Chaozhou and other places, and Foshan has the largest production scale.

In today's Qing Dynasty, apart from Foshan, Suzhou is probably the only city with such high efficiency.

However, Suzhou's "industrialized atmosphere" is far worse than Foshan's.Suzhou is the center of the textile industry, and now there is no steam engine, so it is impossible to open a large textile factory.Therefore, Suzhou's textile industry is still organized and produced in the family workshop - the machine household.

In contrast, the organization degree of Foshan Iron Industry is much higher. Most of the iron workshops have dozens of masters and apprentices, and some can have hundreds of people. They are busy every day. They are especially in troubled times. A likable strong man, or a strong man who can rub cannons and flintlock guns, can he not be liked by the warlord Principal Wang?
In addition, the textile industry without steam engines does not need to build a lot of chimneys to discharge billowing smoke into the sky!
And Foshan is the center of the metallurgical industry!There are at least hundreds of chimneys in the city emitting smoke and dust into the air day and night. When the air pressure is relatively low, the whole city is foggy and has a bit of an industrial atmosphere!
Although industrialization has not yet come, the atmosphere and efficiency are already there.Even if it can't compare with the industrialization and informatization of later generations, if the Guangdong and Guangxi regimes of the old Wang family can keep up with and make good use of Foshan's efficiency, they will already be on the same level as Kang Mazi and Wu Sangui!

That's why Wang Zhongxiao wants to place the center of power in Foshan!
Standing on the tower of a tall square enclosure in the outskirts of Foshan Town, looking at the smoky and busy city not far away, it seems to be back more than 300 years later!

After looking at the scenery for a while, he suddenly raised a brand-new flintlock gun in his hand, aimed at an unknown bird flying in the air, and then decisively pulled the trigger, only to hear a "bang", the hundred-paced bird The flying bird outside suddenly fell to the ground.

"it is good!"

Immediately, a loud voice yelled "Hello" as if it was appropriate to the occasion. Wang Zhongxiao looked back and found that the "hello" was his father, Wang Fuchen, and Kong Sizhen was following him.

Kong Sizhen also had a smile from ear to ear: "Shi Kai, your marksmanship is good. You can shoot down a bird from such a distance. If you go to the battlefield, you will be able to take the general a hundred paces away. Old life?"

"Aunt Kong has won the prize," Wang Zhongxiao smiled, and passed the flintlock gun in his hand to Dai Zi who was beside him, "It's not that I'm good at marksmanship, but that this flintlock gun is a magical weapon, and this gun is called a rifle. The flintlock gun has a straight groove rifling in the barrel, and also uses a specially made wood-bottomed cone lead bullet, which greatly improves the accuracy of shooting, and it is not difficult to kill the enemy at a hundred paces."

Wang Fuchen looked surprised: "Is there such a magic weapon? Second, how many such rifled flintlocks are there now?"

Wang Zhongxiao said: "Not many." He suddenly thought of something, "Father, is there someone in Guangzhou?"

Kong Sizhen nodded and said with a smile: "Yes. Fu Honglie just arrived and brought the news of Guangzhou's change of banner! Shang Zhixin turned against the Qing again, this time against the Qing Dynasty, voted for Wu Sangui, and arrested your mentor Mingzhu. Now Wang Shirong He is already the only imperial envoy in Guangdong who can mediate the conflict between our monk family! Fu Honglie brought his autographed letter this time. According to the meaning in the letter, Guangzhou will be ours from now on, and the Shang family only needs Shaozhou, Huizhou, and South Xiongzhou and Lianzhou are two prefectures, and Liu Jinzhong and Shang Shuying are in charge of Chaozhou. Shikai, are you satisfied with this plan?"

Wang Zhongxiao said with a smile: "Satisfied! I am satisfied now. When the Guangfu digests it, there is still time to be dissatisfied."

"Since you are satisfied," Kong Sizhen said with a smile, "then your father has to go to Dongguan, Guangzhou! Shikai, how many rifled flintlocks do you have available?"

Wang Zhongxiao looked back at Dai Zi, and Dai Zi replied: "We have made 25 pieces now, and we can finish another 25 pieces before the end of the month, which is enough to equip a platoon."

"Where's the flintlock pistol?" Wang Zhongxiao asked again.

"This is too many," Dai Zi said. "There are more than 2000 guns in the warehouse! Although more than half of them are old guns purchased from folks in Foshan, they can all be used."

Wang Fuchen nodded: "Send 25 rifled guns and all the pistols to my cavalry battalion!"

Wang Zhongxiao nodded.

"Yes." Dai Zi replied immediately.

Wang Fuchen said to Wang Zhongxiao again: "Second brother, your township soldiers are dispatched immediately to build a fortress in the north of Guangzhou City and block the Shang family's escape route to the north!"

"Yes!" Wang Zhongxiao patted his chest, "Father, don't worry, no one surnamed Shang can escape."

Wang Fuchen nodded with a smile, and said to Kong Sizhen: "Sister Zhen, you first take your own soldiers and follow Fu Honglie into the city. Bring five hundred flintlock pistols."

"Okay!" Kong Sizhen nodded slightly.

Wang Fuchen smiled and said, "Well, Hongmen Banquet. The taste must be good!"

Outside Dongguan, Guangzhou, Shang Zhixin's tall figure was riding on a horse, but the long side pockets of his red hood were blown by the strong wind blowing from the Pearl River.

Hundreds of elites under the Pingnan Prince's Mansion were dressed in blue cloth masks and red scarves, just waiting quietly.

This scene is similar to the time when Mingzhu, the imperial envoy of the Qing Dynasty, came to Guangzhou a few days ago, except that the costumes of the big guys are a little different, and the expressions on everyone's faces are no longer as relaxed as they were that day, with a little expectation, but from their own. From Shang Zhixin onwards, everyone felt uneasy.

The generals of the Pingnan Palace, as well as the governors of Guangdong and the governors of Guangdong who have just been incorporated by Shang Zhixin, are also blue robes and red hats. They just ride horses and stand behind Shang Zhixin, and everyone frowns , worried.

Today they followed Shang Zhixin to welcome Wang Fuchen, the governor of Guangdong and Guangxi in the Qing Dynasty, and they are the courtiers of Wu Sangui, the president of the Western King of Ming Dynasty!

This is really speechless!

Most of them are still leaning towards the Qing Dynasty. Originally they thought that Wang Fuchen was a traitor, but they didn't expect that Wang Fuchen was still the governor of Guangdong and Guangxi in the Qing Dynasty, but they had already rebelled against the Qing Dynasty and surrendered to Wu.

This is really. The traitor turned out to be me!
What makes these people even more uncomfortable is that even if they become rebels, they still cannot get the support of the people of Guangdong!
Just after Guangzhou changed its flag, the remaining road in the north of Guangzhou was also blocked by Guangdong soldiers and common people.

That was tens of thousands of villagers and soldiers digging trenches and building bastions in full swing!

They don't need to be supervised by officials, and everyone is full of energy. They don't stop working at night, and the work is completed in two days and two nights.

The efficiency of this work is really no one.

Now these people in Guangzhou understand. Cantonese, now they don’t care at all whether the emperor’s surname is Zhu, Wu, or “Kang”.

Previously, the Shang family was loyal to the Qing Dynasty, so they turned against the Qing Dynasty and restored the Ming Dynasty.Now that the Shang family has voted for Wu Sangui, they will temporarily help clear up and eliminate the thieves. In short, they will not give them a way to survive!
While the Guangdong township army was besieging the city, Kong Sizhen followed Fu Honglie into the city of Guangzhou with more than 100 soldiers. She came as Wang Fuchen's negotiator.

It seems that Wang Fuchen is still very careful not to murder!

After Kong Sizhen arrived in Guangzhou Fucheng, he proposed several conditions for peace talks on behalf of Wang Fuchen.

First of all, of course, the territory is divided.

Wang Fuchen not only wants Guangzhou, but also Huizhou!
According to Kong Sizhen, Wang Fuchen wanted to leave Huizhou to his younger son Wang Jiyong.

From now on, the main lands in Guangdong and Guangxi will be inherited by Wang Fuchen's four sons respectively. The eldest son Wang Jizhen will inherit Zhaoqing, Gaozhou, Leizhou, Qiongzhou, Luoding and Wuzhou in Guangxi; Jiqing and Wang Jiqing) inherited Guilin, Pingle, Liuzhou, Xunzhou and Yulinzhou; the fourth son Wang Jiyong inherited Huizhou.
Secondly, three of the four major sons-in-law will be crowned kings, and Wang Fuchen will also be crowned kings!Among them, Wang Fuchen wanted to be named a Southern King, Wang Jizhen was named the Son of the Southern King, Wang Zhongxiao was named the King of the South China Sea, Kong Jiqing was named the King of Guilin, and Wang Jiyong was named the King of Huizhou.

Third, the Guangdong-Guangzhou Wang regime currently does not vote for Wu Sangui Wang Fuchen's mind is to protect Guangdong and the people, and does not want to participate in the struggle of the world.So for the time being, don't vote for Wu, don't rebel against Qing, just discuss peace.

Fourth, hand over the Pearl.The relationship between Wang Fuchen and Mingzhu's wife is very good, and it's impossible to make him a widow or a widow!
These four conditions are really a bit high.

Especially the third article, what is it called if you don’t know who you are not, or who are not rebellious and unfaithful?Even if Shang Zhixin could agree, Wang Shirong couldn't!

It's easy to say how many kings you want to seal, and how to seal the land in Guangdong and Guangxi is easy to say, even if you hand over the pearls, it's not impossible.

But the Wang family should at least surrender to Wu Sangui!
Otherwise how to do this?If they don't claim to be ministers, how can Wu Sangui crown them kings?Could it be that Wang Fuchen wanted Kangxi to wholesale the four princes for his family?
However, Wang Shirong did not refuse outright, but invited Wang Fuchen to come for an interview.

But Wang Fuchen did not dare to enter the city, fearing that Shang Zhixin, an unfilial son, would plot against him. Wang Shirong was willing to go out of the city to talk to Wang Fuchen, but Shang Zhixin refused, fearing that Wang Shirong would be kidnapped by Wang Fuchen.

So Kong Sizhen and Liu Jinzhong acted as intermediaries, and their personal soldiers set up a negotiation venue in the Wengcheng, Dongguan, Guangzhou.Among them, Kong Sizhen sent 150 people, and Liu Jinzhong also sent 150 people.Neither side can bring long weapons and bows and arrows, but can only bring short soldiers into the venue.Moreover, the inner gate of the urn city must be closed, and the place connected to other parts of the city wall must be blocked with fences and horses.

Of course, Shang Zhixin agreed to such conditions.

After all, Guangzhou Fucheng is his territory, and he has more than 1 armed forces. Even if the Dongguan Wengcheng is handed over to Wang Fuchen, he will have a way to get it back soon.

Moreover, as long as Wang Fuchen entered the Wengcheng, he would not be able to escape in all likelihood.

Because the sheep and horse walls and the gate wall have been built outside the current Guangzhou Dongguan Wengcheng, Wang Fuchen has no way to rush out from the main entrance of the Wengcheng, so he can only go out through two side doors.And the side door is easily blocked by the soldiers deployed in the sheep and horse wall - the sheep and horse wall and the city are connected by secret passages!There is no need for people to go through the city gate to enter and exit.

All in all, from Shang Zhixin's point of view, as long as Wang Fuchen comes, he will not run away.

And once Wang Fuchen and Kong Sizhen are gone, the regime of the Wang family will inevitably fall apart!
Because the Wang family regime was originally a joint regime between father and son, brothers and juniors, the three brothers Wang Zhongxiao, Wang Jizhen, and Kong Jiqing (Sun Jiqing) all had their own groups, and it was entirely up to Wang Fuchen and Kong Sizhen to twist these three groups Together.

Once Wang Fuchen and Kong Sizhen are gone, these three groups will definitely disband.

At that time, the Shang family will be able to defeat them one by one!

Thinking of this, Shang Zhixin felt a little at ease.But at this moment, Li Chenggong (Liu Jinzhong's general) who was sent out to greet him rushed back with a dozen fast horses, and shouted at Shang Zhixin from a distance: "The Wang Zhijun has arrived! , Wang Zhijun has arrived!"

The generals on the Shang family's side who were somewhat anxious waited for a while, and began to arrange their clothes and robes, but after this whole process, all the servants of the Qing Dynasty who felt uncomfortable were gone!Some of them are still bannermen!

At this time, there were more sounds of horseshoes in the distance, and in the end they were connected together. The sound of horseshoes was so amazing that the ground trembled a little.

Shang Zhixin, who was waiting there solemnly, suddenly changed his face, and a trace of ominousness appeared in his heart. Wang Fuchen is the living Lu Bu who has won the three armies!He looked back at the waiting queue, and found that the faces of those under him also showed apprehension. Some of them had already held down the sabers at their waists, and Shang Zhixin almost wanted to retreat into the city to hold on.but still hold back
Wang Shirong next to him was confident, and said with a smile: "My lord, don't panic, you are now a subject of King Xi, why wouldn't his ministers go to war with King Xi? There is no need. King Xi treats his family well. Both granddaughters were given to Wang Zhongxiao! Although Wang Zhongxiao participated in the killing of the son of Prince Xi, he took a great risk to save the second son of Prince Xi. The second son treated Wang Zhongxiao extremely I am grateful, and he is also Wang Zhongxiao's concubine, the elder brother of Princess Xiaojiao, and he is now the great grandson of King Xi."

Shang Zhixin had heard Wang Shirong talk about this a long time ago, and now he listened to it again, finally relieved, and said with a smile: "I know, I know, I know, that's why I want to make peace with the Wang family!"

Wang Shirong nodded: "That's right. Let's restore the Han family together, let's talk about other things later!"

Shang Zhixin also nodded: "Okay, just listen to the imperial envoy!"

(End of this chapter)